<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
The Surah has been so designated after the word <em>al-muzzammil</em> occurring
in the very first verse. This is only a name and not a title of its
subject matter.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
The two sections of this Surah were revealed in two separate periods.
</p>
<p>
The first section (vv. 1-19) is unanimously a Makki Revelation, and
this is supported both by its subject matter and by the traditions of
the <em>Hadith</em>. As for the question, in which specific period of the life
at Makkah it was revealed, it is not answered by the tradition, but
the internal evidence of the subject matter of this section helps to
determine the period of its revelation. 
</p>
<p>
First, in it the Holy Prophet
(upon whom be peace) has been instructed to the effect: "Arise during
the night and worship Allah so that you may develop the capability to
shoulder the heavy burden of Prophethood and to discharge its
responsibilities." This shows that this Command must have been given
in the earliest period of the Prophethood' when training was being
imparted to the Holy prophet by Allah for this office. 
</p>
<p>
Secondly, a
Command has been given in it that the Qur'an be recited in, the
Tahajjud Prayer for half the night, or thereabout. This Command by
itself points out that by that time at least so much of the Qur'an had
been revealed as could be recited for that long. 
</p>
<p>
Thirdly, in this
section the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been exhorted to
have patience at the excesses being committed by his opponents, and
the disbelievers of Makkah have been threatened with the torment. This
shows that this section was revealed at a time when the Holy Prophet
(upon whom be peace) had openly started preaching Islam and the
opposition to him at Makkah had grown active and strong. 
</p>
<p>
About the
second section (v. 20) although many of the commentators have
expressed the opinion that this too was sent down at Makkah, yet some
other commentators regard it as a Madani Revelation, and this same
opinion is confirmed by the subject matter of this section. For it
mentions fighting in the way of Allah, and obviously, there could be
no question of it at Makkah; it also contains the Command to pay the
obligatory <em>zakat</em>, and it is fully confirmed that the <em>zakat</em> at a
specific rate and with an exemption limit (nisab) was enjoined at
Madinah.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2>
<p>
In the first seven verses the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has
been commanded to the effect: "Prepare yourself to shoulder the
responsibilities of the great Mission that has been entrusted to you;
its practical form is that you should rise during the hours of night
and stand up in Prayer for half the night, or for a little more or
less of it." 
</p>
<p>
In vv. 8-14, he has been exhorted to the effect: "Devote
yourself exclusively to that God Who is the Owner of the whole
universe. intrust all your affairs to Him with full satisfaction of
the heart. Bear with patience whatever your opponents may utter
against you. Do not be intimate with them. Leave their affair to God:
He Himself will deal with them." 
</p>
<p>
Then, in vv. 15-19, those of the
people of Makkah, who were opposing the Holy Prophet (upon whom be
peace) have been warned, so as to say: "We have sent a Messenger to
you just as We sent a Messenger to the Pharaoh. Just consider what
fate the Pharaoh met when he did not accept the invitation of the
Messenger of Allah. Supposing that you are not punished by a torment
in this world, how will you save yourselves from the punishment for
disbelief on the Day of Resurrection." 
</p>
<p>
This is the subject matter of
the first section. The second section, according to a tradition from
Hadrat Sa'id bin Jubair, was sent down ten years later, and in it the
initial Command given in connection with the Tahajjud Prayer, in the
beginning of the first section, was curtailed. The new Command
enjoined, "Offer as much of the Tahajjud Prayer as you easily can, but
what the Muslims should particularly mind and attend to is the five
times obligatory Prayer a day:, they should establish it regularly and
punctually; they should discharge their <em>zakat</em> dues accurately; and they
should spend their wealth with sincere intentions for the sake of
Allah. In conclusion, the Muslims have been exhorted, saying:
"Whatever good works you do in the world, will not go waste, but they
are like the provision which a traveler sends up in advance to his
permanent place of residence. Whatever good you send up from the world,
you will find it with Allah, and the provision thus sent up is much
better than what you will have to leave behind in the world, and with
Allah you will also get a much better and richer reward than what you
have actually sent up before."
</p>

